Chapter 135: Jester Of Your Dreams

Chapter 135: Jester Of Your Dreams

Uncle Stan tasted delicious. Terry didnt look too happy as we scarfed down the meat, even though we did share it with her and the boys. Not my idea, but the girls had undergone some kind of reverse Stockholm Syndrome.

They served our prisoners first, made sure the children got the best cuts and generally undermined any attempt to intimidate the captives.

You will answer my questions or suffer my wrath. More gravy?

That was supposed to last us for the rest of the month, said Terry as she munched through a large mouthful of succulent, albeit stringy, goat.

Where do you get your food from? asked Maurice as he picked his plate clean. I didnt see any other animals. Is there a town nearby?

Yes. She stared at the white bone which was all that was left of her Uncle. Its about an hours walk from here. But we dont buy our food from there. Uncle Stan was the last of our goats. He was the boys favourite. She looked over at her boys stuffing their faces. We had a large herd once, but times have turned hard.

I thought the masters took care of you, I said. Dont they provide you with all the goats you can eat?

She shot me a nasty look. Of course they do. They are benevolence incarnate. But times of hardship are a test of our faith. You have to be willing to suffer, to surrender yourself to their will. So begins the Cycle of Replenishment.

This Cycle of Replenishment, I said, does it involve you starving to death, coming back to life and then starving again, over and over?

Her eyes widened in surprise. You know of the Cycle?

No, I just thought of the stupidest thing possible and bingo! You people are beyond help. I addressed the others. You can see how far gone she is, right? Theres no way were ever going to convince her shes wrong.

Yeah, said Claire, so? Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

So, we cant just leave them here. First chance she gets, shell report us to whatever authorities they have for rounding up dodgy foreign typesby which I mean usand itll be off to the gulag. Or the goulash, more likely.

What youre trying to say? said Jenny.

Im saying we have to kill them all before we leave.

There was, as expected, some dissension after I announced this intention.

Were not going to kill them! insisted Claire, flapping her arms up and down like a demented bird.

Thats murder, exclaimed Flossie. She tugged on Dudleys shirttails like she was ringing a bell.

It does seem a little OTT, chimed in Dudley.

Maurice didnt say anything, although mostly because he was studying his notes. And Jenny narrowed her eyes and attempted to peer into my soul, I think. Good luck with that.

Stop looking at this with your 21st Century sensibilities where you pretend youre wonderful people by ignoring things you dont like and pretending they dont exist. It isnt murder if they dont stay dead.

I pointed at Terry, who still seemed upset about losing Uncle Stan. She scoured her plate for the remnants and swallowed her delicious grief.

They dont care. They die all the time, right? Terry ignored me. Wed actually be helping them level up, or whatever they call it. We slit their throats, escape out to sea, they come back to life in a few days and carry on with their appalling existence. Everyones a winner!

There is no escape, said Terry. The sea offers nothing but terror from the deepmonsters that will consume your soul. The only safe place is this one. No one leaves Nekromel. It is full of decent people who follow the true faith. You should count yourselves lucky to have found your way here. To ascend is to touch the hem of the divine. Repent your sins and accept your masters. You have been blessed by the Jester of Our Dreams. Her eyes sparkled like the nutter she was. Rejoice, she insisted.

These unbelievers you mentioned, I said, you wouldnt know where we can find them, would you?

Colin, said Claire, we arent going to kill women and children. It doesnt matter what it means to them, what matters is what it means to us.

Thats racist, I pointed out. Just because your ethics and morals dont match hers, doesnt mean you can just dismiss her deeply held religious beliefs, like some missionary deciding she knows whats best for the savages. She deserves the right to live her life the way she wants.

Thank you, said Terry, I

And you can shut it as well, I said. Ive had quite enough of your insane prattle.

Thats the trouble with religious-types, they never stop talking. Youve got to nip it in the bud asap.

Through the window, the sky had begun to darken. It had gone from white to a reddish colour. It would probably start raining blood in a minute.

Unlike you, Claire, I respect other cultures. Thats why its only right we kill her and her children and give them a chance to meet this Jester.

What does he look like? asked Maurice. Like a jester?

I have never seen him, said Terry bitterly. She glared at me.

Neither have I, I said. All I heard was a laugh, and that could have been my mind playing tricks on me. Believe me, I dont want your place in the queue. Im trying to help you get to him quicker.

Youre so full of shit, said Claire. She took out another knife from Chuckys jacket and tossed it to me. Here. Lets see you slice the kids throat.

I looked at the boy who didnt seem particularly bothered we were talking about his imminent execution. I gripped the handle tightly and visualised running the blade across his throat.

A wave of revulsion rolled through me and for a second I thought I was going to throw up.

Its hard to kill a child, I can report. Even when the child in question is a little shit. Even when you have a perfectly legitimate reason for doing it.

Obviously, I dont mean killing them right now. We need to rest for the night and then move out first thing in the morning. If I did it now, theyd just come back to life quicker.

Thats what I thought, said Claire. She walked over and snatched the knife back.

When the time comes

Yeah, yeah, said Claire, not even letting me lie to myself.

This husband of yours, Jenny said to Terry, you said he was in the basement.

Yes. Its better to keep the body somewhere cool. Very considerate.

Where is it? asked Jenny. I dont see any stairs.

She was right. I hadnt seen any when Id looked in the other rooms, either.

Youre standing on the door, said Terry.

Right here, said a whisper at my ear. I skipped two quick steps to the left. Good thing there was no one there to see me mince around like a ponce. No one, save for the thing in the dark.

I steadied my voice and tried not to sound like I was scared out of my mind. Are you the Jester?

Youve heard of me? How wonderful. Indeed, I am the Jester of Your Dreams. Messenger of the masters. Nobodys fool, and everybodys fool. Ive come to invite you to the Palace of Laughter, where you will be the beloved of the masters and all you desire will be yours.

Clearly, I was being sold a bill of goods. The fact this thing thought I would just swallow his line of bull was annoying enough to take the shiver out of my spine. A little bit. And what do I have to do in return for all this generosity?

Your presence is enough. The voice swooped in a circle, like I was being surrounded by one person. The masters have been looking for someone like you for a long time. All their other plans have been put on hold, perhaps forever. All other worlds have lost their lustre now that youre here.

Words to turn a fellows head.

Well, I appreciate the offer, but theres nothing I want right now, so maybe some other time?

Really? Nothing? Gold? Diamonds?

Yellow metal and shiny rocks arent really my thing.

But what about sex? You like sex, dont you?

I already have a demon for a girlfriend. Its about all I can handle.

Demons such a pejorative word. All those negative connotations. Im sure shes not really a demon.

You havent met her.

Oh sweetie, does she make unreasonable demands and refuse your reasonable charms? I could be your woman, if youd like. I wouldnt refuse to do anything.

Youre female? I had assumed the voice was male, but it could have been a huskier version of Lauren Bacall. Or Linda Blair.

Does it matter? It all feels the same in the dark. Come creep with me at the Palace of Laughter.

You know, I have this strange feeling theres a big sign on the front of the palace spelling out its name, but theres a gap where a letters fallen off in front of Laughter.

There was a pause, followed by a long peal of giggling.

I see. Very good. No, no, its nothing like that. The masters look after their flock. They feed the needy.

And the needy feed them?

More laughter. Come. Come. For you, the gates will be wide open. Or tell me where you are and I will send a winged carriage to collect you.

It didnt know where I was. This was the first good thing to come out of this conversation. The relief calmed me. I would but Im planning to go away for a while. Maybe when I come back?

But theres nowhere to go. All portals lead to Nekromel, as they say.

Im not sure who they were but every portal that led here hopefully also led away from here.

Thats alright, I like exploring. There has to be something on the other side of the ocean. There always is.

Ohhh, said the Jester in a way I didnt like. Youre by the sea. That narrows it down considerably.

Shit.

The people from your world can be so shy, but I simply wont take no for an answer. Ill send a flock of the masters own personal guard to fetch you.

Double shit. However, he had said something that did catch my attention. There have been other people from my world here?

Surely. They are still here. Somewhere. So very shy. Now, is there anything else youd like to tell me?

Two eyes suddenly appeared. They werent glowing red, or with vertical slits for pupils. Just two, large, lidless orbs that appeared inches in front of me, unattached to any face.

I screamed and stumbled backwards.

There was a faint crackle of blueish electricity that lit up two curved arms of what might have been a jesters cap. Or they could have been large horns, curled downward. The darkness below the eyes began to split open.

I felt something warm and smooth under my left hand. I grabbed onto it and held tight. My mind was drawn to it, as it always was whenever that familiar softness came under my touch.

I woke with a start. I raised my head and looked over at Jenny lying beside me. My hand was inside her top, squeezing her left breast. Her face was screwed up in a wince.

Uh, sorry. I let go of her. How Id managed to navigate my way through her clothes while I slept, I had no idea.

Jenny let out a rush of air. Ow. She rubbed her tit.

You should have woken me.

I didnt mind. Its not the worst thing youve done in your sleep.

Her words put thoughts of my recent encounter to one side. What do you mean? Like what?

Its probably best you dont know. I saw this documentary about Katharine Hepburn once. She was an actress.

I know who Katharine Hepburn is.

Well, she used to live with Spencer Tracy. Hes

Yes, an actor. Does this have anything to do with

She held up a finger to indicate I should be patient. Spencer Tracy was a terrible drunk and when he was completely plastered, he hit her. She covered the bruises with make-up and he had no recollection of what happened. She never told him because she knew if he found out it would destroy him.

Now I felt really uncomfortable. What did I do, Jenny?

Jenny sighed. Well, if you really must know You curl your fists and put them up to your face and make mew-mew sounds. She showed me.

I dropped my head. Id been sure she was going to tell me Id beaten or forced myself on her.

See, I told you it was better not to know. She grinned at me. Demon. Foul, foul demon.